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What Is Heartworm Disease?
Canine heartworm disease is a potentially deadly infection, caused by worms
(Dirofilaria immitis) that may grow to be 14-inch-long adults. These worms live in
the right side of the heart and arteries of the lungs. Dogs of any age and breed
are susceptible to infection. Heartworm infection can cause potentially serious
damage to these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases,
damage other organs such as the liver and kidneys. In extreme cases, a dog can
be infected with several hundred heartworms. Cats are also susceptible to the
disease.
Coinciding with mosquito season, heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes that
become infected with microfilariae while taking a blood meal from an infected dog.
The microfilariae mature into the infective larval stage within the mosquito. When
the mosquito then bites another dog, cat, or susceptible animal, it then passes the
larvae into the animal’s blood stream through the bite wound, resulting in
heartworm infection. It then takes a little over six months for the infective larvae to
mature into adult worms that can live for five to seven years in the dog.
Canine heartworm disease is a potentially deadly infection, caused by worms
(Dirofilaria immitis) that may grow to be 14-inch-long adults. These worms live in
the right side of the heart and arteries of the lungs. Dogs of any age and breed
are susceptible to infection. Heartworm infection can cause potentially serious
damage to these arteries, eventually leading to heart failure, and in severe cases,
damage other organs such as the liver and kidneys. In extreme cases, a dog can
be infected with several hundred heartworms. Cats are also susceptible to the
disease.
Coinciding with mosquito season, heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes that
become infected with microfilariae while taking a blood meal from an infected dog.
The microfilariae mature into the infective larval stage within the mosquito. When
the mosquito then bites another dog, cat, or susceptible animal, it then passes the
larvae into the animal’s blood stream through the bite wound, resulting in
heartworm infection. It then takes a little over six months for the infective larvae to
mature into adult worms that can live for five to seven years in the dog.
Detection of heartworm infection in apparently healthy animals is usually made with blood tests for
microfilariae or a heartworm substance called an "antigen," although neither test is consistently
positive until about seven months after infection has occurred.
Heartworm infection may also be detected through x-ray and/or ultrasound images of the heart and
lungs, although these tests are usually used in animals that are known to be infected.
Prevention of heartworm infection can be obtained through a number of veterinary drugs. Most
during the local mosquito season. Some of these drugs also kill other parasites, including intestinal
worms
during the local mosquito season. Some of these drugs also kill other parasites, including intestinal
worms
Monthly heartworm prevention should be administered beginning within a month of the onset of the
local mosquito season and continued for a month after the cessation of local mosquito activity. In
warm climates, such as the warm temperate climate along the immediate Gulf coast of the United
States and in tropical and subtropical regions, heartworm prevention must be administered year
round. Some authorities recommend year round administration even in colder climates on the
theory that mosquito activity may occur during the occasional unseasonable warm spell, but others
argue that computer models indicate heartworm transmission is highly unlikely under such
circumstances.
local mosquito season and continued for a month after the cessation of local mosquito activity. In
warm climates, such as the warm temperate climate along the immediate Gulf coast of the United
States and in tropical and subtropical regions, heartworm prevention must be administered year
round. Some authorities recommend year round administration even in colder climates on the
theory that mosquito activity may occur during the occasional unseasonable warm spell, but others
argue that computer models indicate heartworm transmission is highly unlikely under such
circumstances.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi which is also called a
spirochete. The bacteria are carried by ticks which transmit the infection when they feed on animals
and humans. The disease can cause generalized illness in animals and humans worldwide.
Lyme disease was first described in 1975 when an unusual outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis occurring
in children was reported in Lyme, Connecticut. In 1982, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi was
determined to be the cause of that outbreak. Since Lyme disease was first described in the early
1980's, the frequency of occurrence of disease has increased twenty-five fold. Today, Lyme disease
is the most common vector-borne (transmitted by insects or arthropods) disease occurring in people
and probably in dogs in the United States. Dogs are most frequently infected with the Lyme disease
bacteria, but infections can also occur in horses, cattle, and cats.
Clinical signs
The most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs is arthritis, which causes sudden lameness, pain
ands sometimes swelling in one or more joints. Other signs that may be seen include fever, lack of
appetite, dehydration, inactivity, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, the infection can cause
kidney failure and death although this does not occur commonly in dogs. The signs of heart and
nervous system dysfunction seen in infected humans are not often seen in animals.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of Lyme disease is usually made based upon a history of being in an endemic area, signs
of arthritis and favorable response to treatment. There is a blood test that measures antibodies to the
bacteria but many dogs that live in endemic regions will have a positive blood test. A positive blood
test just means that the dog was exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi but not all dogs that are exposed will
show signs of disease. Early in the disease dogs may not yet have a positive blood test. Dogs that
have been vaccinated for Lyme disease may have a positive blood test depending upon the type of
blood test that is performed. There are several other causes of arthritis that occur in dogs that must
also be considered.
Treatment
Borrelia burgdorferi is easily treated with antibiotics. The signs of Lyme disease usually regress
rapidly in response to treatment. If the disease remains untreated the disease becomes chronic and
can cause kidney damage although dogs are much less likely to develop chronic disease than are
people.
Prevention
Animals in endemic areas are at greatest risk for infection. The best method of prevention is to avoid
tick infested areas, especially in the spring when the young ticks are most active. When returning
from a tick-infested area do a thorough search for ticks on both yourself and your animals. Ticks
should be removed carefully with a tweezers, pinching the tick near the point they enter the skin.
There are also many highly effective veterinary products that will kill ticks on your dog before the tick
can transmit the bacteria. Remember that early removal of ticks reduces the chance that the tick will
transmit Lyme disease.
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This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions
provided by your veterinarian.
provided by your veterinarian.
Allergies
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It's major function is to protect the rest of the body from the
external environment. With it's sweat glands and rich blood supply, it is also responsible for regulating
the body's temperature.
The exterior portion of the skin is called keratin. In animals, this protective waterproofing layer is
thickest on the paw pads. Under the keratin layer are the epidermal cells. These cells are constantly
dividing, as new cells are replacing damaged older cells. The keratin layer and the epithelial cells are
the body's first line of defense against invading microorganisms and hazardous environmental
substances. These layers are also responsible for keeping moisture inside the body, preventing the
body from dehydrating.
Like humans, animals have allergies. Some allergies are seasonal while others occur year round. In
the northern parts of the U.S., flea allergies are commonly seen in the summer and fall. In the
southern states, flea allergies often occur throughout the year. Food allergies are not seasonal. They
can occur anytime during the year. The most common types of allergies in pets (particularly dogs)
include: contact allergies, flea allergies, atopy and food allergies.
Asthma and hay fever are common symptoms of allergies in humans. Animals rarely develop these
symptoms. Scratching is the most common symptom of allergies in pets. Some animals scratch so
much that they mutilate themselves. It is not unusual to see an allergic dog with large skin wounds and
areas devoid of fur (hot spots). Once the skin is injured, the animal is susceptible to a serious
bacterial infection.
There are many ways to treat allergies in pets. Food allergies can be treated with hypoallergenic
diets. Certain animals respond favorably to desensitization. Unfortunately, in most cases, allergies are
extremely difficult to treat and require medication. This medication should only be dispensed by a
veterinarian.
